Republican infighting showed no sign of abating over the weekend as Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) issued a blistering letter to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and seven others in the conference who voted to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
“Dear Wayward colleagues,” McClintock’s letter began. “Your letter of October 20, in which you graciously offer to martyr yourselves as long as you can get your way, is perhaps the most selfless act in American history.”
“I was certain that our Republican colleagues ‘who refuse to vote’ with the Republican majority would have been inspired by your stirring example of party discipline and loyalty to ‘vote with the team,’ as you so eloquently phrased it,” he continued.
Earlier this month, Gaetz filed a motion to oust McCarthy because the latter wouldn’t acquiesce to his demands. Even though only eight Republicans supported McCarthy’s removal, the conference is now forced to elect a new leader. McClintock, incidentally, voted for Jordan to become speaker when he was still in the running.